Richard B. Kaner 2013-2014 Seminar Series
March 5, 2014
Graphene is the ultimate two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of sp2 hybridized carbon. Here we explore different approaches to synthesize this carbon allotrope, ranging from chemical conversion to vapor phase deposition. Briefly, graphite can be converted into graphene oxide (GO) sheets, which readily disperse in water, and then can be reduced by various methods. Due to its unique ability to be solution processed and patterned, GO and chemically converted graphene (CCG) hold promise for applications ranging from sensors to transparentconducting electrodes for flexible solar cells, etc. Chemical vapor deposition onto metal substrates enables the growth of continuous, large-area graphene. The challenges of growing graphene, controlling the number of layers, transferring graphene and some exciting uses such as flash memory and laser scribed graphene for supercapacitors will be discussed.